One of the top ten most beautiful lakes in the WORLD—Lake Atitlan or Lago de Atitlan as its officially called was the highpoint of our Guatemalan trip itinerary. After a week of brisk, mountain weather in the highlands (highest peaks of Central America), it was decadently pleasurable to bask in the sunshine and water of Lake Atitlan! A sun-dappled hotel courtyard dripping with bougainvillea was our home base as we strolled down a gravel road to the shore. Paragliders, a few boats and several taverns and vendors nearby, we absorbed the STUNNING beauty of this magical lake, known for its sacred and pristine waters.

Few boats are allowed on this lake and I can see why. The most royal blue skies with cotton ball clouds draped this landscape among the volcanoes and mist. We shot across the lake in a speedboat for a thirty minute ride to the other side…a village called San Juan. The port of San Juan was everything you’d hope it to be. The vendors from the village women cooperatives were calm and peaceful. The hillside was dotted with artisans and weavers, coffee farms and cafes, markets and medicinal herb gardeners.

In San Juan, we looked at art, textiles, markets and more. The vibe was calm; not touristy or chaotic. Relaxing at a coffee house was a respite from the sightseeing and a perfect location to tour a coffee farm in the back. Inside the chic coffeehouse, we enjoyed artisan coffee drinks. Much to my surprise, our guides took us out to what felt like Lucy in The Chronicles of Narnia moment of passing through…not a wardrobe but instead, a “portal” into a coffee farm! Behind the chic coffeehouse were robust coffee bean trees with volcanoes in the distance. Stunning and magical!…with an informative tour of the coffee making process and the machinery involved!

San Juan had murals expressing their culture on the walls of the quiet hillsides. Medicinal herb gardens and textiles boutiques had a panache to them here in San Juan. There was not the aggressiveness of the markets in other cities. Watching paragliders and enjoying a Corona beer from a tavern patio was a perfect way to relax on the day of arrival.I went back out at sunrise the next morning to capture some photos. A pack of wild dogs charged out of nowhere and started running towards me, barking. Panicked, I picked up a rock in case I needed to throw it and ran back toward the hotel. Then, I remembered they were after a female dog in heat the day before. They found her. I was off the hook. Scary. The things we go through for photos.

Beautiful Lake Atitlan. There is only calm there (except for dogs in heat). Find it, harness it, appreciate it, bask in it. It’s unlikely you’ll visit the other nine most beautiful lakes. The magic of this Mayan one was not lost on me.

©Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

photos by GIna